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10 Unconventional Ways to Learn English
New ways to learn a foreign language pop up every day. Digital technology has given limitless learning options. We have curated 10 unconventional ways to learn English for you.
First: Mobile apps
It only takes 10 to 20 minutes a day to learn English on a smartphone. Experts say this method doesn’t promise proficiency, however it is a great help to your daily practice. There are plenty of apps available today, both paid and free, for adults and children. Find the best one for you and go ahead.
Second: Movies and cartoons
Watching movies is the best way to learn English for those who are reluctant to communicate and prefer the silver screen. This way, you will learn the language and pick up the intonation and accents of native speakers. For convenience and better memorization, you can always turn on subtitles to speed up your learning.
Third: Lectures and Audiobooks
Listening to lectures or audiobooks is another great way to learn English. The choice of topics and authors is unlimited. Find the best lectures on ted.com, coursera.org, khanacademy.org, and look for audiobooks on social media and in online stores.
Fourth: Talking with native speakers online
While hanging out with native speakers was a luxury just a few years ago, there are no barriers anymore. However, you should keep in mind that written communication via messaging, email, or social media differs from oral communication. With remote communication technologies and digital tools, there are lots of ways to meet English native speakers.
“We believe that live communication with native speakers speeds up the learning of English manifold. If children are immersed in the language environment from childhood, hear a foreign language and try to speak it, they begin to think in this language and, as a result, speak without translation. Therefore, all our teachers are native speakers from different countries,” says Amy Krolevetskaya, a methodologist and teacher at NOVAKID Online English School for Children.
Fifth: Virtual tours
The largest museums in the world offer virtual tours to explore their exhibitions in almost any language of the world. The benefits are obvious – you hear the English language and discover works by great painters, sculptors and architects.
Sixth: Contests and quizzes
Quizzes, tests, and quests have always been appealing to language learners. They will help boost your English in a relaxed environment. Prizes will be exciting bonuses. “Children love contests held at school. Our quiz experience shows that children love contests to become leaders and outperform their peers. This motivates them to learn much faster and better,” Amy Krolevetskaya said.
Seventh: Music and Podcasts
Music attracts millions of listeners worldwide. Have you tried singing along to your favorite singer in their language? Or translate songs? Many apps show texts in karaoke mode. Are you driving? Go ahead and sing. Soon eough, you will find out that you know most of the words.
Eighth: Original newspapers, magazines and books
Do you want to read news at its source? Do you want to know the original author’s idea without the need for translation? Isn’t it great to feel the original author’s style? Read original books. The internet offers limitless opportunities to do this. While you may bump into a paywall once in a while, full access will cost you $10-$15. It is easy to find and buy original books. As an alternative, you can look for libraries offering a wide range of foreign-language collections.
Ninth: Voice assistants
The easiest way to communicate if no one is around is to turn on the voice assistant on your gadget. Ask about the weather, traffic jams, or the latest sports news. You can even discuss things! And all this in English! You will get out what you put in.
Tenth: Switch all your gadgets into English
Finally, changing the settings of your smartphone or tablet will definitely help you learn a hundred or two words and phrases. We use gadgets throughout the day, and you will start remembering things with the English text in front of your eyes, whether you want to or not.
